Read the essay. Then underline and label the parts that show its structure and flow (for example: hook, background, thesis statement, topic sentences, discourse markers (with their uses), repeated key words, citations (with types) and references).

How Universities Can Help Students Reduce Exam Stress

Have you ever studied hard for an exam but still felt your heart race when you sat down to write it? Exams are an important part of university, but the stress around them can hurt students’ health and learning. Universities can reduce exam stress by teaching simple study skills, giving clear information and practice exams, and offering strong emotional support.

Firstly, universities can reduce exam stress by teaching basic study skills and time management. Many first-year students do not know how to plan their week, so they often start revising only a few days before the test. As a result, they feel rushed and worried. A recent study showed that students who joined a short time-management course began their revision earlier and felt calmer during exam week (Lee, 2020). When universities offer simple training, students learn how to break big tasks into smaller parts and how to balance study with rest. Therefore, good study habits help students feel more in control of their work, and this control lowers their stress. When students have these habits, they are more ready to focus on understanding the exam itself, which is another way universities can help.

Secondly, clear information and practice exams can make students feel less afraid. Many students are nervous because they do not know what the exam will look like or how their answers will be marked. For example, one project found that students were less anxious when teachers explained the exam format, showed model answers, and shared the marking criteria in simple language (Alvarez, 2019). In addition, short practice quizzes help students become used to the style of questions and the time limit. As a result, the real exam feels more familiar and less like a strange event. When students understand what will happen on exam day, they can use their energy to think about the content instead of worrying about surprises. However, even with good information, some students still feel very anxious, so emotional support is also important.

Finally, emotional support from the university can directly lower exam stress and protect students’ well-being. Some students have personal problems, health issues, or family worries that make exam time hard. In these cases, it helps when the university offers counselling, peer mentoring, or relaxation workshops. According to Santos (2020), “short, friendly meetings with a counsellor can make exam time feel less scary for many students” (p. 80). This kind of support shows students that their feelings matter as much as their grades and gives them a safe place to talk about their fears. Consequently, students may sleep better, feel calmer, and continue their studies instead of giving up.

To sum up, universities can help students manage exam stress by teaching basic study skills, giving clear information and practice exams, and offering emotional support. These steps make exam periods more organised and more predictable, so students can focus on learning instead of fear. Therefore, universities should invest in skills courses, clear communication, and support services, and they should make sure that every student knows about these options before exam week begins.

References

Alvarez, M. (2019). Practice exams and student confidence. Journal of Educational Assessment, 12(1), 25–34.

Lee, S. J. (2020). Time management training for first-year students. International Journal of University Success, 8(2), 40–55.

Santos, R. (2020). Counselling support and exam stress. Journal of Student Wellbeing, 7(4), 75–88.